PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Low calorie diets linked to heightened risk of depressive symptoms

Men and the overweight may be especially vulnerable to effects of restrictive eating

2025-06-03
(Press-News.org) Following a low calorie diet is linked to a heightened risk of depressive symptoms, finds research published in the open access journal, BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health.

Men and those who are overweight may be especially vulnerable to the effects of restrictive eating, the findings suggest.

A ‘healthy’ diet rich in minimally processed foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, lean proteins and fish, is generally associated with a lower risk of depression, while an ‘unhealthy’ diet, dominated by ultra-processed foods, refined carbs, saturated fats, processed meats and sweets, is generally associated with a heightened risk, explain the researchers.

But people follow many different types of diet for health or medical reasons, including those that restrict calories or particular nutrients, and it’s not clear if these other dietary patterns might be associated with a risk of depressive symptoms, they add.

To explore this further, they drew on 28,525 adult respondents (14,329 women and 14,196 men) to the nationally representative US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 2007–18, who had completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depressive symptom severity.

In all, 2508 people (just under 8%) reported depressive symptoms, and 7995 participants (29%) had a healthy weight; 9470 (33%) were overweight; and 11060 (38%) were obese. 

Participants were asked if they were following any particular diet either to lose weight or for other health reasons, and if so, which of the 9 diet options set out in all 6 cycles of NHANES they were on.

Dietary patterns were categorised into 4 groups: (1) calorie-restrictive; (2) nutrient-restrictive (low in fat/cholesterol, sugar, salt, fibre, or carbs); (3) established dietary patterns (adapted for diabetes, for example); and (4) not on a diet. 

Most participants (25,009, 87%) said they weren’t on any specific diet, while 2026 (8%) followed a calorie-restrictive diet, 859 (3%) a nutrient-restrictive diet, and 631 (2%) an established dietary pattern. 

When stratified by sex, a greater proportion of men (12,772; 90%) than women (12,237; 85%) said they weren’t on a diet. Calorie restriction was most commonly reported by obese participants (1247;12%) and those who were overweight (594; 8%), while nutrient-restrictive and established dietary patterns were less commonly reported, with the highest proportion of established dietary pattern users among obese participants (359; 3%).

PHQ-9 scores were 0.29 points higher in those on calorie-restrictive diets than in those not on any specific diet.

The scores were higher among those who were overweight and following a calorie-restrictive diet: their PHQ-9 scores were 0.46 points higher, while a nutrient-restrictive diet was associated with a 0.61 point increase in PHQ-9 scores.

Calorie-restrictive diets were also associated with higher cognitive-affective symptom scores (measure of relationship between thoughts and feelings) while nutrient-restrictive diets were  associated with higher somatic symptom scores (excessive distress and anxiety about physical symptoms).

These scores also varied by sex: a nutrient-restrictive diet was associated with higher cognitive-affective symptom scores in men than in women not on a diet, while all 3 types of diet were associated with higher somatic symptom scores in men. 

And people living with obesity following an established dietary pattern had higher cognitive-affective and somatic symptom scores than those of a healthy weight not on a diet.

This is an observational study, and as such no firm conclusions can be drawn about causality. Respondents may not have accurately classified their diets either, say the researchers.

The findings also contradict those of previously published studies suggesting that low calorie diets improve depressive symptoms. But the researchers explain: “This discrepancy may arise because prior studies were primarily randomised controlled trials (RCTs) where participants adhered to carefully designed diets ensuring balanced nutrient intake.

“In contrast, real-life calorie-restricted diets and obesity often result in nutritional deficiencies (particularly in protein, essential vitamins/minerals) and induce physiological stress, which can exacerbate depressive symptomatology including cognitive-affective symptoms.” Another possible explanation might be a failure to lose weight or weight cycling—losing weight and then putting it back on, they suggest.

By way of an explanation for the observed gender discrepancies, the researchers point out that glucose and the fatty acid omega-3 are critical for brain health.  “Diets low in carbohydrates (glucose) or fats (omega-3s) may theoretically worsen brain function and exacerbate cognitive-affective symptoms, especially in men with greater nutritional needs,” they suggest.

Professor Sumantra Ray, Chief Scientist and Executive Director of the NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, which co-owns BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health with BMJ Group, comments: “This study adds to the emerging evidence linking dietary patterns and mental health, raising important questions about whether restrictive diets which are low in nutrients considered beneficial for cognitive health, such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12, may precipitate depressive symptoms. 

“But the effect sizes are small, with further statistical limitations limiting the generalisability of the findings. Further well designed studies that accurately capture dietary intake and minimise the impact of chance and confounding are needed to continue this important line of inquiry.”  

END


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Bronchiolitis, monoclonal antibody halves hospitalizations of children younger than six months old

2025-06-03
A single dose of the long-acting antibody nirsevimab developed to prevent respiratory syncytial virus infections (The drug has been approved at the European level to protect infants in their first season of exposure to the virus) to infants can halve hospitalisations for bronchiolitis. It is the result of a study involving the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome campus - Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, co-ordinated by Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Catalonia, Children's Emergency Department, Leicester Royal Infirmary and University of Edinburgh, ...

Mum’s obesity linked to child’s heightened hospital admission risk for infection

2025-06-03
Children born to mothers who are very obese with a BMI of 35 or higher are at heightened risk of being admitted to hospital for an infection, finds a long term study published in the open access journal BMJ Medicine. The findings highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight before and after the pregnancy, say the researchers. On current trends, the global prevalence of maternal obesity is projected to reach nearly 1 in 4 (23%) by 2030, point out the researchers. This is of particular concern, given that obesity is characterised by a state of chronic inflammation, which increases the risk of a disordered immune ...

Millions of new solar system objects to be found and ‘filmed in technicolor’ – studies predict

2025-06-03
A group of astronomers from across the globe, including a team from the University of Washington and led by Queen’s University Belfast, have revealed new research showing that millions of new solar system objects will be detected by a brand-new facility, which is expected to come online later this year.   The NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory is set to revolutionize our knowledge of the solar system’s “small bodies” — asteroids, comets and other minor planets.  The Rubin Observatory, ...

Pitt study has upended decades-old assumptions about brain plasticity

2025-06-03
A new study from Pitt researchers challenges a decades-old assumption in neuroscience by showing that the brain uses distinct transmission sites — not a shared site — to achieve different types of plasticity. The findings, published in Science Advances, offer a deeper understanding of how the brain balances stability with flexibility, a process essential for learning, memory and mental health. Neurons communicate through a process called synaptic transmission, where one neuron releases chemical messengers called neurotransmitters ...

Hertz Foundation partners with Analog Devices to empower future leaders in analog, digital and software technology solutions

2025-06-03
The Hertz Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering the nation’s most promising innovators, and Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), a global semiconductor leader, have announced a new partnership to drive the next generation of scientific leadership in analog, digital, and software technology solutions. Through the Hertz Fellowship – the nation’s most prestigious doctoral fellowship – and its influential network of 1,300 Hertz Fellows, the Hertz Foundation has been at the forefront of advancing science and technology for more than 60 years. Hertz Fellows are responsible for some of the most significant progress of the past century, from the recent launch of the ...

Would you hand over your health data if it meant better care?

2025-06-03
Despite growing concerns about data privacy, new research from the University of South Australia shows that most people are happy to hand over their health information if it could help improve their care.   In a new global study, UniSA researchers found that 94% of people who use wearable activity trackers – such as Fitbits, Garmins, as well as Samsung or Apple Watches – are open to sharing data with their healthcare providers.   Of these respondents, 47% of people had already discussed their data with their healthcare provider, ...

Study examines how well wearable tech tracks fitness metrics

2025-06-03
OXFORD, Miss. – Many Americans rely on their Apple Watches or similar devices each day to count their steps, track workouts, and measure how many calories they burn. But are those wearable devices accurate? University of Mississippi professor Minsoo Kang and doctoral student Ju-Pil Choe are working to answer that question. Kang, a professor of sport analytics, and Choe reviewed 56 studies that compared the Apple Watch to trusted reference tools in measuring energy burned, heart rate and step counts. Data ...

Dr. Nikolaos Koundouros wins 2025 Tri-Institutional Breakout Award

2025-06-03
Dr. Nikolaos Koundouros, a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Pharmacology at Weill Cornell Medicine, has been awarded a 2025 Tri-Institutional Breakout Award for Junior Investigators. Weill Cornell Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and The Rockefeller University present the awards to up to six exceptional investigators each year—at least one from each institution—who are recognized for their notable research achievements, impactful findings and high potential for success as independent investigators. ...

Low vs. High blood pressure avoidance in non-cardiac surgery: Neurocognitive outcomes unchanged

2025-06-03
A large international study has found that two different approaches to managing blood pressure in older adults undergoing non-cardiac surgery, one avoiding low blood pressure (hypotension) and the other high blood pressure (hypertension), lead to similar outcomes in terms of in-hospital delirium and cognitive changes one year after surgery. The findings were published on June 3 in Annals of Internal Medicine. The randomized controlled trial, a substudy of the POISE-3 trial, included 2,603 patients across 54 centres in 19 countries undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Participants were 70 years old on ...

Telehealth can improve care for cats with chronic health issues

2025-06-03
Caring for a cat with chronic health conditions can be challenging for all involved, from the process of getting to a veterinary clinic to the stress of being in a strange environment with new smells and animals. Researchers at the University of California, Davis, worked with pet owners across the United States and Canada to determine whether video telehealth visits could help improve care and the home environment for cats with feline degenerative joint disease, commonly referred to as feline arthritis. The findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, show that video calls where pet owners can ask questions and get non-medical ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Fish ‘beauty salons’ offer insight into how microbes move within reefs

Pennington Biomedical’s Greaux Healthy Initiative for Louisiana addresses childhood obesity

New study identifies lncRNAs CBR3-AS1 and PCA3 as potential biomarkers for early detection of gastric cancer

Health care workforce recovery after the end of the COVID-19 emergency

Pausing chikungunya vaccination and accelerated approval

When the sky takes a midday dip: global patterns in ionospheric bite-outs

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society and others announce MS research and training funding opportunities

China successfully develops its first double-spoke superconducting cavity cryomodule

Study helps pinpoint areas where microplastics will accumulate

NRG Oncology study shows the addition of regional nodal irradiation does not decrease rates of invasive breast cancer recurrence in patients whose axillary nodes convert from positive to negative foll

Cancer treatments should be licensed for all ages, oncologists say

US self-reported race and ethnicity are poor proxies of genetic ancestry

Living towers of worms observed in nature

New AI transforms radiology with speed, accuracy never seen before

Brain mechanisms that distinguish imagination from reality discovered

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and risk of neovascular age-related macular degeneration

BMI, physical activity, and subsequent neoplasm risk among childhood cancer survivors

Chimpanzees can catch yawns from androids

The Holberg Prize conferred upon Professor Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak

Up and running—first room-temperature quantum accelerator of its kind in Europe

Using swarm intelligence to improve treatment of acute stroke

Weight stigma—not BMI—has the biggest effect on mental health after weight-loss surgery

Research alert: Alzheimer's gene therapy shows promise in preserving cognitive function

New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai opens first Comprehensive Center for Refractive Solutions in New York

Storm ready: FAU Sensing Institute’s weather network delivers real-time forecasting

UChicago receives $21 million to establish visionary center in quantum engineering and health

Inherited genetic trait predicts resistance to immunotherapy for deadly skin cancer

Oxford physicists recreate extreme quantum vacuum effects

Talking therapy could be effective treatment for stroke survivors

A new method for studying mechanical proteins and their involvement in muscular disorders

[Press-News.org] Low calorie diets linked to heightened risk of depressive symptoms
Men and the overweight may be especially vulnerable to effects of restrictive eating